The West Virginia University community raised a record $335,100 for its annual United Way Campaign, exceeding this year’s goal by more than $30,000.

It was the first time in the campaign’s history that the goal has been met at the end of the eight-week campaign.

Since 2007, the campaign has increased its yearly giving by more than $92,500. Over that span, the University has given the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties more than $1.2 million. The University has raised more than $300,000 each of the last three years.

“I’m so proud of our campaign and of our institution’s commitment to the community,” said WVU Provost Michele Wheatly, chair of the 29th annual campaign. “This campaign is another shining example of how WVU is leading the way on engagement and outreach.”

WVU students helped raise a record $42,000 for the campaign through efforts like the fourth-annual Gold Rush t-shirt sale and first Mountaineers United Run/Walk. More than 5,400 t-shirts were sold for more than $21,000 and more than $2,000 was raised from the run/walk.

In total, 1,283 University employees donated to the United Way Campaign.

“Each year, we raise the bar for our United Way Campaign,” Wheatly said. “As we look to future campaigns, I am confident that we will continue to exceed expectations.”

The University celebrated the campaign’s success on Tuesday (Nov. 29) at the Morgantown Event Center. At that event, a check was presented to the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties.

The first “United Mountaineer Award” was given to Lesley Cottrell, Faculty Senate chair and Health Sciences Center faculty member, for her work on the Mountaineers Run United event. The award will be given each year to a faculty member, staff member or student who has went above and beyond the call of duty to support the campaign.

WVU is, once again, the largest contributor to the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties.

For three straight years, the University’s United Way campaign has been recognized as the “Best of the Best” by the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. The honor is given to the campaign that truly lives the United Way’s message, which is to “give, advocate, volunteer and live united.”

WVU’s United Way campaign began in 1982, White said, and has been conducted each year since. This year’s theme was “PICTURE THIS: One Contribution. Countless Results.”

“Over the past 29 years, our institution has continually shown that we care about our community,” said Brett White, WVU campaign director. “This campaign remains a testament to our faculty, staff and students’ generosity and goodwill.”

All contributions for WVU’s United Way Campaign stay local, as the money is donated to 31 different organizations in Monongalia and Preston Counties that assist people with healthcare, childcare, youth mentoring, senior programs, mental health programs, disaster response initiatives and healthy lifestyle initiatives, among others. These agencies, however, do not have the resources for large fundraising campaigns and rely on WVU’s United Way campaign each year for additional funding.

-WVU-

td/11/29/11

CONTACT: Brett White, Center for Civic Engagement
304-293-8761 ext. 33481, Brett.White@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.